The Real Spring Practice Thread

[BMF]

247 has a "5 standouts this spring" article. Good to hear on DT Khairi Clark, says he's bulked up and is doing well so far this spring. Also says Heggie is doing well at RG, and is in the top 3 among the Guard rotation (w/ Fred & Tyler):

http://florida.247sports.com/ContentGallery/Florida-Gators-Football-Five-early-standouts-in-spring-ball-51858484?utm_source=247Sports Newsletter&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_campaign=170319_130525_Florida Gators&utm_content=Link/4

 

[BMF]

http://florida.247sports.com/Bolt/Toney-turning-heads-with-his-explosiveness-51859171

Toney turning heads with his explosiveness
Florida true freshman Kadarius Toney has been impressive early on in spring ball and has probably already earned playing time next fall.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- While all eyes are on the quarterback battle this spring, an unexpected contributor wearing the orange non-contact jersey is the one turning the most heads.

True freshman Kadarius Toney isn't really thought to be in the mix for the starting job, but he has flashed the kind of athleticism that you simply can't keep off the field through the first four practices. Florida will find a way to use him.

"I think there's going to be some things we're going to be able to do with him in some packages, a lot like we were doing with Dre (Massey) a little bit, only more so that he really has been a quarterback," coach Jim McElwain said.

Toney has a slender frame but boasts that rare ability to shift directions without losing any speed. He's able to shake defenders and get to top speed extremely quickly.

Florida's defenders have been left clutching air more than a few times.

"He pulled one down and took one very quickly to the end zone from a ways away and caught the eyes of not only us as coaches but the team," McElwain said.

Offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier is already trying to find ways to get the ball in Toney's hands. You simply don't sit on a talent like the Alabama athlete.

"He’s electric. He’s electric," Nussmeier said. "When you put the ball in his hands, he can make things happen. He had a run the other practice, and he had one again (Tuesday), when he pulls it down and goes, you better bottle him up fast because he’s electric, and really excited about him."

The Gators never really debuted the Wildcat looks they had installed in the offense in fall camp last year. Massey tore his ACL on the opening kickoff of the season and that was that.

Having two players that could do that would prevent injuries from taking away an important chunk of the playbook. Even better, as a high school quarterback, Toney can add some wrinkles that even Massey might not be able to.

"He brings a whole 'nother dimension to our offense, the ability to put some packages in and do some things differently," Nussmeier said. "It takes you out of ‘Hey, this is what they’re going to be in.’ Now, there’s a whole new package that presents itself to a defense they’ve got to prepare for week in, week out."

 

[ThreatMatrix]

Anything stood out at this point with the QBs?

Depends on what you read and when you read it. What I've got so far is:
Trask: Positives - Accurate, strong arm, has learned the playbook. Negatives: Lack of confidence - whatever that means. Had trouble with snaps.
Franks; Positives - Leader, stronger arm, has learned the playbook, Negatives: Accuracy at times and wanting to throw through defenders.

 

[Gatorraid81]

Depends on what you read and when you read it. What I've got so far is:
Trask: Positives - Accurate, strong arm, has learned the playbook. Negatives: Lack of confidence - whatever that means. Had trouble with snaps.
Franks; Positives - Leader, stronger arm, has learned the playbook, Negatives: Accuracy at times and wanting to throw through defenders.

We can't have another guy with confidence issues, so maybe Franks will get better with his accuracy.

 

[ThreatMatrix]

We can't have another guy with confidence issues, so maybe Franks will get better with his accuracy.

Lack of confidence is hard thing to overcome. Inevitably if a QB has early success defenses adjust. You have to have the confidence to power through that.
Look at our best past QB's. Kerwin Bell. Takes a lot of confidence with a name like Kerwin and a porn mustache. And he did once flip me off for skateboarding on the south end zone pedestrian ramp so there's that. Shane was confident to the point of being an *******. Wuerffel was well known for having no memory of the previous play. Rex* never met a pass he didn't think he could make. And Tebow goes without saying. Leak was the only successful QB not known for his leadership - let's say he had a quite confidence about him. I never saw Spurrier play but I assume he played with confidence.
We have three Heisman trophy winners (should be four*) who played with a lot of confidence. I'm gonna lean that way.

 

[NavetG8r]

I don't think this has been posted yet.

 

[T REX]

Nice to hear Franks has come a long way. One practice won't make or break anyone but I think he's our future. Getting him on track would be yuge.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

I like Waters' articles, despite him being a Chimp apologist until the last second, but he sounds like a damn idiot and has a face for radio. He should focus primarily on typing.

That being said, he actually understands the game at a level better than all our other regulars combined and can really breakdown plays.

 

[t-gator]

I like Waters' articles, despite him being a Chimp apologist until the last second, but he sounds like a damn idiot and has a face for radio.

All those guys were muschamp apologist until they got the greenlight. They couldn't wait to spear him in the back once he was fired. They'll be no punches held back for mac when he gets the ax. He's too stupid to make buddies with these guys.

 

[GatorJ]

I like Waters' articles, despite him being a Chimp apologist until the last second, but he sounds like a damn idiot and has a face for radio. He should focus primarily on typing.

That being said, he actually understands the game at a level better than all our other regulars combined and can really breakdown plays.

Waters he's probably one of the better writers for Gator news out there.

 

[BMF]

Today's presser:

https://www.seccountry.com/florida/live-blog-florida-coach-jim-mcelwain-discusses-spring-practice

• “Saturday’s practice was really good, especially in some situational things. Both quarterbacks, I was happy to see, executed at a pretty high level. We did dummy it down a little bit for their progress, but the big thing is finding out what they feel comfortable with. They’ve handled a lot of the new stuff we’ve installed.”

• “Really excited about how our offensive line has progressed. Just seeing the energy with which their playing with the finish kind of throughout practice, and seeing those guys kind of joining arms a little bit. (They’ve) really done a good job and we’ll see if we can sustain as we move forward.”

• “This time of year, watching practice, evaluating practice, evaluating personnel every day, talking about every single player on your team, and yet making sure you get to watch basketball, it’s a great time of year. Mike’s got those guys playing unselfish. You don’t see a lot of guys calling for me, me me. … That’s fun to watch. Again, can’t say enough good things there.”

• Injuries: OL Kavaris Harkless is still out, TE Kemore Gamble had strep throat but he’s going to practice today.

• On freshman OL Kadeem Telfort: “It’s great to see Kadeem get his feet wet the way he’s been doing it and see him compete and more than anything following in Tez’s footsteps the way he’s playing. That’s good to see.”

• “I don’t see Dre Massey missing anything, as far as a step of quickness or speed.”

• On freshman TE Kemore Gamble: “Kemore is a guy that people are going to know who he is.”

• “I think the most competitive, I go to our running back group. Seeing some competition at wideout, which is good to see, and knowing that Freddie (Swain) is still not there and he’s going to be a big piece of what we’re doing. I think we’re developing stuff at that position as far as guys pushing each other. And without David (Reese) there at that linebacker group, we’ve got a bunch of guys taking reps.”

• “Can we talk hoops?” McElwain goes on to praise the Florida basketball team for being committed to doing all the little things. And he thinks KeVaughn Allen will come out of his shooting slump soon. So there you go.

• On the offensive line and new coach Brad Davis: “I think any time that happens. Mike did obviously an awesome job with those guys and created the continuity when we got here. Obviously hearing a different voice, the way they go about the drills, they’re not just walking to the line of scrimmage. They’re playing with a renewed sense in how they go about it and he demands it from them”

• “I think the biggest thing is they’ve got to win on 50-50 balls, No. 1. The other thing is they’ve got to do a great job of creating space, understanding zones and how to get open. We’ve got some really good speed there, we’ve got some quickness.”

• “We haven’t been in a ton of true nickel because we’ve got that hybrid piece with both (Jeremiah) Moon and KC (Kylan Johnson). This week as we go along we’re going to get more into the five DBs in the game.”

• On the influx of defensive backs coming in this summer: “The defensive back spot at the University of Florida is a legacy position and those guys have a lot to live up to.”

• “I’ve been really happy with Mark Thompson, the way he’s been going. … I think he’s taken some real maturity steps.”

• “Taven Bryan, he has been our most consistent player day to day in all drills, which is something he kind of lacked a little bit. He has probably taken as big a step as anyone on the team. … That’s huge for us.”

• Offensive lineman Brandon Sandifer is no longer with the team. “He’s going to move on.”

 

[MertzJay26]

Dropping dimes!

 

[GR8 2B]

Dropping dimes!

I enjoyed watching that. Nice pass. Putu needs to tighten up.

 

[rogdochar]

Wait here now. Trask is the most "count-on" accurate ... but he lacks confidence ??? Maybe they're saying he's not vocal enough in the huddle. If he's most accurate with little confidence then by all means assign him Spurrier-talks on acquiring confidence. All his efforts (talents) have been pushed down his entire teen esteem development years.
Hey coaches, let's make both our QBs all they can be. Franks may get stung enough to come out a series, or a worse injury. S'pose to be QB Guruse there somewhere??

Wow! K. Toney ... I'm starting to remember Harvin, our freshman we couldn't keep off the field.
All in all, sounds like hollow-talk to me. Probly won't have any real evidence until O & B game.

 

[GR8 2B]

Wait here now. Trask is the most "count-on" accurate ... but he lacks confidence ??? Maybe they're saying he's not vocal enough in the huddle. If he's most accurate with little confidence then by all means assign him Spurrier-talks on acquiring confidence. All his efforts (talents) have been pushed down his entire teen esteem development years.
Hey coaches, let's make both our QBs all they can be. Franks may get stung enough to come out a series, or a worse injury. S'pose to be QB Guruse there somewhere??

Wow! K. Toney ... I'm starting to remember Harvin, our freshman we couldn't keep off the field.
All in all, sounds like hollow-talk to me. Probly won't have any real evidence until O & B game.

I especially like your suggestion, Rog, that Trask be assigned Spurrier-talks. That would be an application of our greatest resource to one of our most pressing needs.

 

[NavetG8r]

Dropping dimes!

Great throw with no pressure. Putu got scorched.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

If only we can move to a flag football conference.

 

[rogdochar]

At this stage & time of year all historically great Gator QBs have thrown under no pressure?
When F & T throw even in the culminating O & B game practice, that won't be like against a real growling opponent.
Let's hope this "easy-type" practicing will learn them the soon-to-come needed rapid react for the real 2017 CFB season.

 

[gatormandan]

If only we can move to a flag football conference.

So, you cant admit the kid can throw? Pressure or not, give him some credit.

 

[maheo30]

Flawless mechanics. Maybe some of that can rub off on Franks.